Saturday, February 05, 2011
Who's keeping track around here?
Anyone who can keep up with the beer news this past week is a much better, or just more obsessive, person than am I.
Here's a quick rundown of just some of the beer headlines of the last week.
Terry Hawbaker announced his departure from renowned Bullfrog Brewery in Williamsport, Pa.
Within a day, the Fork and Barrel team announced their intention for a new multi-faceted concept in Center City Philadelphia called The Grainery....in-house brewer will be -- Terry Hawbaker
Don Younger, legendary publican in Portland, Oregon, passed away
Russian River released its Pliny the Younger and dedicated it to the memory and life work of Don Younger
Gambrinus announced the discontinuation of the Pete's Wicked brand of beers. One of my original craft beers from the early 90s gone. (great video links at Jay's site as well)
Mega-merger news: MolsonCoors buying Sharp's in the UK? Looks like it. News quickly followed by rumors of Anheuser-Busch InBev buying SABMiller? Maybe not so quick.
On a much smaller scale, the beer geeks are all a-foam over the announced collaboration beer, aged over a year in wood, being released soon by Cigar City and The Bruery
And on an even smaller scale, I put together a Super Bowl Guide to finding Great Beer in Dallas, Green Bay, Pittsburgh, and anywhere else you might be watching the game this year.
Did I miss anything?
Friday, February 04, 2011
Eat. Drink. New Holland Brew. And much more.
I get to do a few different things with this posting:
--- bring attention yet again to the amazing beer calendar of events that the Philadelphia region maintains week in and week out. February has how many? That's right -- Over 90 events in 27 of the 28 days deep in the heart of winter's lovely month of February.
--- point out the whirlwind tour through the Philadelphia region of New Holland's brewmaster John Haggerty, sales director Fred Bueltmann, and regional representative Joel Armato. After last night at Varga and Tria in Philadelphia, the tour continues tonight.
tonight, Friday 2/4, at Iron Hill in West Chester from 5pm-8pm
tomorrow, Saturday 2/5, at Kraftwork in Philadelphia from 9pm-??
Sunday, 2/6, at South Philadelphia Tap Room in Philadelphia from 12pm-3pm
- and last, but certainly not least -- help to promote the Big Interview Project that Dr. Joel has undertaken on his blog. He's got a minimum of 52 interviews lined up for 2011, a new one publishing each Friday. He's looking to interview more of the not-so-usual suspects, i.e. the ones that may not necessarily be household names, but all with very interesting perspectives on this very large world of craft beer nonetheless.
Today's mandatory reading, and very timely at that, is his interview with New Holland brewmaster John Haggerty. Enjoy!
p.s. and if one of these New Holland events doesn't strike your fancy (though, not sure why Kraftwork won't be overrun tomorrow night), there are at least another mere dozen or so beer events to choose from this fine weekend. Party on, party people!
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Weekly Beer Calendar Update: February 3 - February 9
February. Only 28 days, but nearly that many beer events counted in seven short days from February 3 to February 9.
Check out the entire February 2011 calendar over here.
If I'm missing any that you feel should be on here, let me know.
Tastings, samplings, parties, and festivals
@Bell's Beverage, Philadelphia, PA--- Fri. 2/4 - Friday Night Tasting (4:00pm-6:00pm; Free tasting samples from Southern Tier)
@Bella Vista Beverage, Philadelphia, PA--- Fri. 2/4 - Friday Night Tasting (5:00pm-7:00pm; Free tasting samples from Ommegang)
@Blue Dog, Lansdale, PA--- Fri. 2/4 - Friday Night with Tröegs Brewery (6:30pm; PAYG for a night of Java Head, Troegenator, Dreamweaver, and Nugget Nectar)
@Craft Ale House, Limerick, PA--- RESCHEDULED TO Wed. 2/9 - Ground Dog Day (6:00pm; PAYG for 120 Minute IPA ['09], 60 Minute IPA, 75 Minute IPA [firkin], 90 Minute IPA, Black & Blue, Indian Brown Ale, Midas Touch, Raison D'Etre (Randall-ized), Red & White, Sahtea, Theobroma, World Wide Stout, and maybe more. Also, we will be offering a flight with 60, 75, 90 and 120.)
@Devil's Den, Philadelphia, PA--- Thu. 2/3 - Ballast Point Tower Takeover (7:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG for a lineup of Barmy Ale, Big Eye IPA, Black Marlin Porter, Bourbon Barrel Aged Piper Down, Even Keel, Sculpin IPA, Victory at Sea, and Yellowtail Pale Ale)
@Iron Hill, North Wales, PA--- Wed. 2/9 - Chocolate Cherry Stout Release (5:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG for the beer which will be served with complimentary assorted chocolate covered fruits)
@Iron Hill, West Chester, PA--- Fri. 2/4 - Meet the Brewer (5:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG for a night of great beer and a meet 'n' greet with New Holland's brewer, John Haggerty)
@Isaac Newton's, Newtown, PA--- Thu. 2/3 - Brewery Promo Night (7:00pm; PAYG for Ballast Point beers like Big Eye IPA, Dorado Double IPA, Victory at Sea Vanilla Imperial Porter, Bourbon-barrel aged Piper Down Scottish Ale, Even Keel, and Sculpin India Pale Ale. Enter to win 9 p.m. drawing for a growler of Sculpin IPA)
@Khyber Pass Pub, Philadelphia, PA--- Tue. 2/8 - Rock the Bells (6:00pm-12:00am; PAYG for a Bell's blowout including Hopslam and Batch 10,000)
@Monk's Café, Philadelphia, PA--- Mon. 2/7 - Mad Monday (11:30am; PAYG as Jodi Stoudt brings Blonde Double Mai Bock, Imperial Schwarzbier, Winter Ale, Pilsner, and the only cask of gravity-poured Chocolate Chocolate Orange Porter)
@Old Eagle Tavern, Philadelphia, PA--- Wed. 2/9 - Ommegang Night (7:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG for $1-off drafts, food specials, and Chocolate Indulgence, Three Philosophers, Hennepin, and Witte)
@South Philadelphia Tap Room, Philadelphia, PA--- Wed. 2/9 - Bell's Tap Takeover Happy Hour (5:00pm-7:00pm; PAYG for 10 beers from Bell's on tap including: 10,000, Amber, Cherry Stout, Double Cream, Expedition, Hopslam, Java, Oarsman, Two-Hearted, and Winter White)
@Varga Bar, Philadelphia, PA--- Thu. 2/3 - New Holland Night (8:00pm-11:30pm; PAYG to hang with brewmaster John Haggerty and partake in a firkin of Night Tripper Imperial Stout and a draft list including Dragon's Milk, Charkoota Rye, Full Circle Kölsch, Mad Hatter, & more)
@Washington House, Sellersville, PA--- Fri. 2/4 - Meet the Brewery Night (5:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG for at least four different beers from Stone Brewing, perhaps even a vintage case of something special)
@Whole Foods, Plymouth Meeting, PA--- Thu. 2/3 - First Thursday Beer Sampling (6:00pm-8:00pm; Free)
Boot Camp, where only the strong survive
@Sly Fox, Phoenixville, PA--- every Wednesday 1/12 through 3/16 - St. Patrick's Day Boot Camp (5:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG for a night of beer, dinner, and live music)
@Sly Fox, Royersford, PA--- every Thursday 1/13 through 3/17 - St. Patrick's Day Boot Camp (5:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG for a night of beer, dinner, and live music)
Beer and Food, they say they go well together
@Brauhaus Schmitz, Philadelphia, PA--- Mon. 2/7 - Yards Beer Dinner (7:00pm-10:00pm; $50 for 4-course meal paired with Jefferson's Tavern Ale, Franklin's Tavern Spruce, Brawler, and Love Stout)
@Desmond Hotel & Conference Center, Malvern, PA--- Sat. 2/5 - Main Line Beer, Wine & Food Festival (12:00pm-3:30pm; $35/$40 for tasting samples close to thirty breweries, wineries, and food purveyors)
@Iron Hill, Lancaster, PA--- Wed. 2/9 - Chocolate and Beer Pairing (7:00pm-9:00pm; $25 for a Saison & Assorted Chocolates, a Tripel & Dagoba Lemon Ginger Chocolate, a Rauchbier & Dagoba Xocolati, and a Stout & Mocha Chocolate)
@Jose Pistolas, Philadelphia, PA--- Sun. 2/6 - Super Bowl Sunday with foods and beers from Green Bay and Pittsburgh (12:00pm; PAYG for 1/2 price beers corrsponding to whichever team is currently winning)
@South Philadelphia Tap Room, Philadelphia, PA--- Sun. 2/6 - New Holland Pre-Super Bowl Beer Brunch (12:00pm-3:00pm; PAYG as brewmaster John Haggerty and Fred Bueltmann hang out for SPTR's brunch with 2 New Holland IPAs, 2 stouts, and Charkoota Rye on draft)
@Tria, Philadelphia, PA--- Thu. 2/3 - Meet 'n' Eat (5:00pm-7:00pm; PAYG for tasting portions of four intriguing brews, ranging from El Mole Ocho Mexican Spiced Ale to the rare Blue Sunday Sour. Brewmaster John Haggerty in attendance as well)
@White Dog Café, Philadelphia, PA--- Wed. 2/9 - Brew Works Beer Dinner (6:30pm; $50 for a 3-course meal paired with Bagpipers Scotch Ale, Pawn Shop Porter, and Knuckle Ball Blonde)
Here a cask, there a cask
@Bethlehem Brew Works, Bethlehem, PA--- Thu. 2/3 - Charity Cask Night (5:00pm; PAYG for a St. Valentine's Altbier that benefits the Greater Lehigh Valley MDA)
@Iron Hill, Media, PA--- Fri. 2/4 - Polar Bear Party (5:00pm; PAYG for a cask of winter warmer and a chance to dunk brewer Bob Barrar in a dunk tank -- yes, you read that correctly)
@Iron Hill, Media, PA--- Fri. 2/4 - February Firkin Series (5:00pm; PAYG for an imperial red ale, which is a blend of two big red hop monsters: Sasquatch and Holiday Ale)
@Standard Tap, Philadelphia, PA--- Wed. 2/9 - Odyssey Firkin (6:00pm; PAYG for Sly Fox's imperial IPA, rare for this time of year)
Live music, Vegan, Movies, Homebrew (aka Everything Else)
@Dock Street, Philadelphia, PA--- Tue. 2/8 - Movie Night (8:30pm; PAYG for Sexy Beast the movie and Sexy Beast the beer)
@Hulmeville Inn, Hulmeville, PA--- Sat. 2/5 - The Kharma Factor (2:00pm; PAYG for a homebrew competition that awards the winner the prize of brewing a PBW '11 beer with Yards -- read the rules at Yards' website)
@Kraftwork, Philadelphia, PA--- Sat. 2/5 - Soul and Suds (9:00pm; PAYG for a night of music and beer -- guest appearances by New Holland's Fred Bueltmann & John Haggerty -- DJing by New Holland's Dr. Joel, Kraftwork & Sidecar's Adam Ritter, and The P.O.P.E.'s Dennis Hewlett -- and the beers, of course: Beer Hive, Black Tulip, Cabin Fever, Charkoota Rye, Charkoota Rye (Oaked), Dragons Milk, El Mole Ocho, Full Circle, Golden Cap, Imperial Hatter (Oaked), Mad Hatter, Night Tripper, Sundog, The Poet, The Poet (Oak Aged))
@The Abbaye, Philadelphia, PA--- Sat. 2/5 - Vegan Wing Bowl 2011 & Cricket Hill Beer Special (3:00pm-5:00pm; $10/$20 for vegan wings and Cricket Hill beer)
Check out the entire February 2011 calendar over here.
If I'm missing any that you feel should be on here, let me know.
Tastings, samplings, parties, and festivals
@Bell's Beverage, Philadelphia, PA--- Fri. 2/4 - Friday Night Tasting (4:00pm-6:00pm; Free tasting samples from Southern Tier)
@Bella Vista Beverage, Philadelphia, PA--- Fri. 2/4 - Friday Night Tasting (5:00pm-7:00pm; Free tasting samples from Ommegang)
@Blue Dog, Lansdale, PA--- Fri. 2/4 - Friday Night with Tröegs Brewery (6:30pm; PAYG for a night of Java Head, Troegenator, Dreamweaver, and Nugget Nectar)
@Craft Ale House, Limerick, PA--- RESCHEDULED TO Wed. 2/9 - Ground Dog Day (6:00pm; PAYG for 120 Minute IPA ['09], 60 Minute IPA, 75 Minute IPA [firkin], 90 Minute IPA, Black & Blue, Indian Brown Ale, Midas Touch, Raison D'Etre (Randall-ized), Red & White, Sahtea, Theobroma, World Wide Stout, and maybe more. Also, we will be offering a flight with 60, 75, 90 and 120.)
@Devil's Den, Philadelphia, PA--- Thu. 2/3 - Ballast Point Tower Takeover (7:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG for a lineup of Barmy Ale, Big Eye IPA, Black Marlin Porter, Bourbon Barrel Aged Piper Down, Even Keel, Sculpin IPA, Victory at Sea, and Yellowtail Pale Ale)
@Iron Hill, North Wales, PA--- Wed. 2/9 - Chocolate Cherry Stout Release (5:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG for the beer which will be served with complimentary assorted chocolate covered fruits)
@Iron Hill, West Chester, PA--- Fri. 2/4 - Meet the Brewer (5:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG for a night of great beer and a meet 'n' greet with New Holland's brewer, John Haggerty)
@Isaac Newton's, Newtown, PA--- Thu. 2/3 - Brewery Promo Night (7:00pm; PAYG for Ballast Point beers like Big Eye IPA, Dorado Double IPA, Victory at Sea Vanilla Imperial Porter, Bourbon-barrel aged Piper Down Scottish Ale, Even Keel, and Sculpin India Pale Ale. Enter to win 9 p.m. drawing for a growler of Sculpin IPA)
@Khyber Pass Pub, Philadelphia, PA--- Tue. 2/8 - Rock the Bells (6:00pm-12:00am; PAYG for a Bell's blowout including Hopslam and Batch 10,000)
@Monk's Café, Philadelphia, PA--- Mon. 2/7 - Mad Monday (11:30am; PAYG as Jodi Stoudt brings Blonde Double Mai Bock, Imperial Schwarzbier, Winter Ale, Pilsner, and the only cask of gravity-poured Chocolate Chocolate Orange Porter)
@Old Eagle Tavern, Philadelphia, PA--- Wed. 2/9 - Ommegang Night (7:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG for $1-off drafts, food specials, and Chocolate Indulgence, Three Philosophers, Hennepin, and Witte)
@South Philadelphia Tap Room, Philadelphia, PA--- Wed. 2/9 - Bell's Tap Takeover Happy Hour (5:00pm-7:00pm; PAYG for 10 beers from Bell's on tap including: 10,000, Amber, Cherry Stout, Double Cream, Expedition, Hopslam, Java, Oarsman, Two-Hearted, and Winter White)
@Varga Bar, Philadelphia, PA--- Thu. 2/3 - New Holland Night (8:00pm-11:30pm; PAYG to hang with brewmaster John Haggerty and partake in a firkin of Night Tripper Imperial Stout and a draft list including Dragon's Milk, Charkoota Rye, Full Circle Kölsch, Mad Hatter, & more)
@Washington House, Sellersville, PA--- Fri. 2/4 - Meet the Brewery Night (5:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG for at least four different beers from Stone Brewing, perhaps even a vintage case of something special)
@Whole Foods, Plymouth Meeting, PA--- Thu. 2/3 - First Thursday Beer Sampling (6:00pm-8:00pm; Free)
Boot Camp, where only the strong survive
@Sly Fox, Phoenixville, PA--- every Wednesday 1/12 through 3/16 - St. Patrick's Day Boot Camp (5:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG for a night of beer, dinner, and live music)
@Sly Fox, Royersford, PA--- every Thursday 1/13 through 3/17 - St. Patrick's Day Boot Camp (5:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG for a night of beer, dinner, and live music)
Beer and Food, they say they go well together
@Brauhaus Schmitz, Philadelphia, PA--- Mon. 2/7 - Yards Beer Dinner (7:00pm-10:00pm; $50 for 4-course meal paired with Jefferson's Tavern Ale, Franklin's Tavern Spruce, Brawler, and Love Stout)
@Desmond Hotel & Conference Center, Malvern, PA--- Sat. 2/5 - Main Line Beer, Wine & Food Festival (12:00pm-3:30pm; $35/$40 for tasting samples close to thirty breweries, wineries, and food purveyors)
@Iron Hill, Lancaster, PA--- Wed. 2/9 - Chocolate and Beer Pairing (7:00pm-9:00pm; $25 for a Saison & Assorted Chocolates, a Tripel & Dagoba Lemon Ginger Chocolate, a Rauchbier & Dagoba Xocolati, and a Stout & Mocha Chocolate)
@Jose Pistolas, Philadelphia, PA--- Sun. 2/6 - Super Bowl Sunday with foods and beers from Green Bay and Pittsburgh (12:00pm; PAYG for 1/2 price beers corrsponding to whichever team is currently winning)
@South Philadelphia Tap Room, Philadelphia, PA--- Sun. 2/6 - New Holland Pre-Super Bowl Beer Brunch (12:00pm-3:00pm; PAYG as brewmaster John Haggerty and Fred Bueltmann hang out for SPTR's brunch with 2 New Holland IPAs, 2 stouts, and Charkoota Rye on draft)
@Tria, Philadelphia, PA--- Thu. 2/3 - Meet 'n' Eat (5:00pm-7:00pm; PAYG for tasting portions of four intriguing brews, ranging from El Mole Ocho Mexican Spiced Ale to the rare Blue Sunday Sour. Brewmaster John Haggerty in attendance as well)
@White Dog Café, Philadelphia, PA--- Wed. 2/9 - Brew Works Beer Dinner (6:30pm; $50 for a 3-course meal paired with Bagpipers Scotch Ale, Pawn Shop Porter, and Knuckle Ball Blonde)
Here a cask, there a cask
@Bethlehem Brew Works, Bethlehem, PA--- Thu. 2/3 - Charity Cask Night (5:00pm; PAYG for a St. Valentine's Altbier that benefits the Greater Lehigh Valley MDA)
@Iron Hill, Media, PA--- Fri. 2/4 - Polar Bear Party (5:00pm; PAYG for a cask of winter warmer and a chance to dunk brewer Bob Barrar in a dunk tank -- yes, you read that correctly)
@Iron Hill, Media, PA--- Fri. 2/4 - February Firkin Series (5:00pm; PAYG for an imperial red ale, which is a blend of two big red hop monsters: Sasquatch and Holiday Ale)
@Standard Tap, Philadelphia, PA--- Wed. 2/9 - Odyssey Firkin (6:00pm; PAYG for Sly Fox's imperial IPA, rare for this time of year)
Live music, Vegan, Movies, Homebrew (aka Everything Else)
@Dock Street, Philadelphia, PA--- Tue. 2/8 - Movie Night (8:30pm; PAYG for Sexy Beast the movie and Sexy Beast the beer)
@Hulmeville Inn, Hulmeville, PA--- Sat. 2/5 - The Kharma Factor (2:00pm; PAYG for a homebrew competition that awards the winner the prize of brewing a PBW '11 beer with Yards -- read the rules at Yards' website)
@Kraftwork, Philadelphia, PA--- Sat. 2/5 - Soul and Suds (9:00pm; PAYG for a night of music and beer -- guest appearances by New Holland's Fred Bueltmann & John Haggerty -- DJing by New Holland's Dr. Joel, Kraftwork & Sidecar's Adam Ritter, and The P.O.P.E.'s Dennis Hewlett -- and the beers, of course: Beer Hive, Black Tulip, Cabin Fever, Charkoota Rye, Charkoota Rye (Oaked), Dragons Milk, El Mole Ocho, Full Circle, Golden Cap, Imperial Hatter (Oaked), Mad Hatter, Night Tripper, Sundog, The Poet, The Poet (Oak Aged))
@The Abbaye, Philadelphia, PA--- Sat. 2/5 - Vegan Wing Bowl 2011 & Cricket Hill Beer Special (3:00pm-5:00pm; $10/$20 for vegan wings and Cricket Hill beer)
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Portland's Beer Scene has lost a legend
Don Younger, of Portland's Horse Brass Pub, passed away last night.
Though I've never met Don Younger, been to his pub, nor visited Portland, Oregon (one of my beer shortcomings), whenever a presence like his is lost, we all feel it. I've read of Don through the years and seen interviews with him. I'd always hoped the day would come when I'd be visiting Portland and get a chance to meet the man who helped create the fabric of the Portland Beer Scene and continue it thirty years on. For those of you who have, I'm sure you have special stories to share.
As much as it takes brewers to make the beer that fuels the industry, it takes publicans like Younger who help make it accessible to the masses. Hopefully, you are all fortunate enough to have your own Don Younger manning the taps in your neighborhood. We, like Portland, would all be better off if we did.
Cheers to Don's life and may he rest in peace. Observations also by Pete Brown, OregonLive.com, via a BeerAdvocate forum posting, and earlier information from Jay Brooks. And, for additional reference, Imbibe Magazine has a nice profile of Don Younger on their site.
Though I've never met Don Younger, been to his pub, nor visited Portland, Oregon (one of my beer shortcomings), whenever a presence like his is lost, we all feel it. I've read of Don through the years and seen interviews with him. I'd always hoped the day would come when I'd be visiting Portland and get a chance to meet the man who helped create the fabric of the Portland Beer Scene and continue it thirty years on. For those of you who have, I'm sure you have special stories to share.
As much as it takes brewers to make the beer that fuels the industry, it takes publicans like Younger who help make it accessible to the masses. Hopefully, you are all fortunate enough to have your own Don Younger manning the taps in your neighborhood. We, like Portland, would all be better off if we did.
Cheers to Don's life and may he rest in peace. Observations also by Pete Brown, OregonLive.com, via a BeerAdvocate forum posting, and earlier information from Jay Brooks. And, for additional reference, Imbibe Magazine has a nice profile of Don Younger on their site.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Belgium came to West Chester again this year to the delight of many
This year's installment went faster than ever, but faster does not always translate to better. Anyway, not much time for commentary, so I'll simply share a few random shots around the restaurant and brewery at this past weekend's Belgium Comes to West Chester event at Iron Hill.
For more photos, check out West Chester Dish.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Beer Calendar: What To Do in February 2011
If January's beer calendar even appeared a tick off the normal frenzied busyness of other months, then February and its 28 days is surely making up for it. In Philadelphia, it's all a warm-up for what is certain to be another Philly Beer Weekend bonanza in March. Oh, and get a load of all the PAYG, Free, and under $20 events--truly, something for everyone.
If I'm missing any that you feel should be on here, let me know.
$20 and under, down to and including FREE...Pay As You Go (PAYG) also included here
Philadelphia
Tue. 2/1 - Movie Night (Fargo) @Dock Street, Philadelphia, PA (8:30pm; PAYG)
Tue. 2/1 - Stillwater Artisinal Ales Night @Eulogy Belgian Tavern, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm; PAYG)
Wed. 2/2 - Groundhog Day Hawaiian Shirt Beer Breakfast and Lucky Cat Beer Prognostication @The Grey Lodge Pub, Philadelphia, PA (7:00am-12:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/3 - New Holland Night @Varga Bar, Philadelphia, PA (8:00pm-11:30pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/3 - Meet 'n' Eat (with New Holland's brewmaster John Haggerty) @Tria, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; $TBD)
Thu. 2/3 - Ballast Point Tower Takeover @Devil's Den, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/4 - Friday Night Tasting (Ommegang) @Bella Vista Beverage, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; Free)
Fri. 2/4 - Friday Night Tasting (Southern Tier) @Bell's Beverage, Philadelphia, PA (4:00pm-6:00pm; Free)
Sat. 2/5 - Soul and Suds (with Fred & John from New Holland and Dr. Joel as DJ) @Kraftwork, Philadelphia, PA (9:00pm; PAYG)
Sat. 2/5 - Vegan Wing Bowl 2011 & Cricket Hill Beer Special @The Abbaye, Philadelphia, PA (3:00pm-5:00pm; $10/$20)
Sun. 2/6 - New Holland Pre-Super Bowl Beer Brunch @South Philadelphia Tap Room, Philadelphia, PA (12:00pm-3:00pm; PAYG)
Sun. 2/6 - Super Bowl Sunday with foods and beers from Green Bay and Pittsburgh @Jose Pistolas, Philadelphia, PA (12:00pm; PAYG)
Mon. 2/7 - Mad Monday (with Jodi Stoudt and her beer) @Monk's Café, Philadelphia, PA (11:30am; PAYG)
Tue. 2/8 - Movie Night (Sexy Beast) @Dock Street, Philadelphia, PA (8:30pm; PAYG)
Tue. 2/8 - Rock the Bells @Khyber Pass Pub, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm-12:00am; PAYG)
Wed. 2/9 - Ommegang Night @Old Eagle Tavern, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG)
Wed. 2/9 - Odyssey Firkin @Standard Tap, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm; PAYG)
Wed. 2/9 - Bell's Tap Takeover Happy Hour @South Philadelphia Tap Room, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/10 - Jolly Pumpkin Night @Kite and Key, Philadelphia, PA (PAYG)
Fri. 2/11 - Friday Night Tasting (Sam Adams) @Bell's Beverage, Philadelphia, PA (4:00pm-6:00pm; Free)
Fri. 2/11 - Keep the Glass Night (Yuengling Bock) @Hop Angel Brauhaus, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/11 - White Birch Brewery Night @Devil's Den, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/11 - Friday Night Tasting (McSorley's) @Bella Vista Beverage, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; Free)
Sat. 2/12 - The Kharma Factor (homebrew competition) @City Tap House, Philadelphia, PA (2:00pm; PAYG)
Sat. 2/12 - Wood'ja @Nodding Head, Philadelphia, PA (3:00pm-6:00pm; PAYG)
Sun. 2/13 - Complimentary Yards Love Stout while you shop @Verde, Philadelphia, PA (12:00pm-6:00pm; Free)
Mon. 2/14 - Valentine's with a Sexy Beast (special dinner and release event) @Dock Street, Philadelphia, PA (PAYG)
Wed. 2/16 - Victory Headwaters Pale Ale Release and Anniversary Party @Resurrection Ale House, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm-10:00pm; PAYG)
Wed. 2/16 - Ballast Point Night @McMenamin's, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/17 - Late Night with Joe Gunn, featuring Allagash's Rob Tod @Jose Pistolas, Philadelphia, PA (11:00pm-2:00am; PAYG)
Thu. 2/17 - Meet the brewer/owner: BFM's Jerome Rebetez @Fork & Barrel, Philadelphia, PA (6:30pm-10:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/17 - Weyerbacher Happy Hour @White Dog Café, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/17 - Kill the Cask Night (Yards) @Khyber Pass Pub, Philadelphia, PA (4:00pm-10:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/17 - Ommegang and Chocolate Night @Devil's Den, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/17 - Victory Headwaters Pale Ale Release and Anniversary Party @Kraftwork, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/18 - Shoot the Shit with Roy Pitz, Shoot Darts Too @The Grey Lodge Pub, Philadelphia, PA (8:00pm-10:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/18 - Friday Night Tasting (Sam Adams) @Bella Vista Beverage, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; Free)
Fri. 2/18 - Lew Bryson Book Signing @Yards Brewing, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/18 - Friday Night Tasting (Oskar Blues) @Bell's Beverage, Philadelphia, PA (4:00pm-6:00pm; Free)
Mon. 2/21 - President's Day with The Founding Fathers @Old Eagle Tavern, Philadelphia, PA (4:00pm-10:00pm; PAYG)
Mon. 2/21 - Monk's Mad Monday (with Sierra Nevada) @Monk's Café, Philadelphia, PA (11:30am; PAYG)
Tue. 2/22 - Movie Night (Viewers Choice) @Dock Street, Philadelphia, PA (8:30pm; PAYG)
Wed. 2/23 - Keep the Mug Night (Radeberger) @Hop Angel Brauhaus, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG)
Wed. 2/23 - Beer and Cheese pairings (Sly Fox and Dogfish Head, Whole Foods) @Kite and Key, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/24 - Got an IPA itch? Let Tröegs Scratch You 4 Ways to Thursday @The Grey Lodge Pub, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/24 - National Chili Day (featuring Bell's Brewery) @Jose Pistolas, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/25 - Friday Night Tasting (Victory) @Bella Vista Beverage, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; Free)
Fri. 2/25 - Friday Night Tasting (Bear Republic) @Bell's Beverage, Philadelphia, PA (4:00pm-6:00pm; Free)
Sat. 2/26 - Pinups and Porters (and Voodoo Brewery) @The Institute, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm-12:00am; PAYG)
Sun. 2/27 - Brunch with Lew @Devil's Den, Philadelphia, PA (11:00am-2:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/25-Sun. 2/27 - Pop-Up Brewery: Fegley's Brew Works @City Tap House, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm; PAYG)
Sun. 2/27 - We're Getting Younger @Khyber Pass Pub, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm; PAYG)
Mon. 2/28 - Monk's Mad Monday (with Russian River) @Monk's Café, Philadelphia, PA (11:30am; PAYG)
Philadelphia's close suburbs
every Wednesday 1/12 through 3/16 - St. Patrick's Day Boot Camp @Sly Fox, Phoenixville, PA (5:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG)
every Thursday 1/13 through 3/17 - St. Patrick's Day Boot Camp @Sly Fox, Royersford, PA (5:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG)
Wed. 2/2 - Sixpoint Brewery Night @Iron Abbey, Horsham, PA (8:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/3 - Brewery Promo Night (Ballast Point) @Isaac Newton's, Newtown, PA (7:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/3 - First Thursday Beer Sampling @Whole Foods, Plymouth Meeting, PA (6:00pm-8:00pm; Free)
Fri. 2/4 - Meet the Brewer (with New Holland Brewing's John Haggerty) @Iron Hill, West Chester, PA (5:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/4 - Polar Bear Party (on the patio with a cask of Winter Warmer) @Iron Hill, Media, PA (5:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/4 - February Firkin Series (Imperial Red Ale) @Iron Hill, Media, PA (5:00pm; PAYG)
Sat. 2/5 - The Kharma Factor (homebrew competition) @Hulmeville Inn, Hulmeville, PA (2:00pm; PAYG)
Wed. 2/9 - Chocolate Cherry Stout Release @Iron Hill, North Wales, PA (5:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/10 - Craft Ale Night (Bell's Brewery) @Pickering Creek Inn, Phoenixville, PA (6:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/11 - Friday Night Sampling (Victory) @Exton Beverage, Exton, PA (4:00pm-6:00pm; Free)
Fri. 2/11 - February Firkin Series (Bourbon Chocolate Pumpkin Ale) @Iron Hill, Media, PA (5:00pm; PAYG)
Sat. 2/12 - Bell's @The Drafting Room, Exton, PA (12:00pm; PAYG)
Sat. 2/12 - British Invasion @Iron Hill, Phoenixville, PA (12:00pm-7:00pm; PAYG)
Tue. 2/15 - 15th Anniversary Party @Victory Brewing Co., Downingtown, PA (all day and night; PAYG)
Tue. 2/15 - Tasty Tuesday Tap Takeover with Tröegs @Teresa's Next Door, Wayne, PA (PAYG)
Thu. 2/17 - Sierra Nevada Tapping @Capone's Restaurant, Norristown, PA (11:30am; PAYG)
Fri. 2/18 - February Firkin Series (Noel vs. Smokin' Blonde) @Iron Hill, Media, PA (5:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/18 - Friday Night Tasting (Victory Headwaters Pale Ale) @Beer Yard, Wayne, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; Free)
Fri. 2/18 - Friday Night Tasting (Flying Fish) @Exton Beverage, Exton, PA (4:30pm-6:30pm; Free)
Sat. 2/19 - Saturday Afternoon Tasting (Boxcar Brewing) @Exton Beverage, Exton, PA (1:00pm-3:00pm; Free)
Sun. 2/20 - Kaldi Kreme release @Iron Hill, West Chester, PA (12:00pm-2:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/25 - February Firkin Series (Mocha Porter) @Iron Hill, Media, PA (5:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/25 - Friday Night Tasting (Flying Fish) @Goshen Beverage, West Chester, PA (4:30pm-6:30pm; Free)
Sat. 2/26 - Barrels, Bourbons, and Bugs @Iron Hill, Maple Shade, NJ (12:00pm-5:00pm; PAYG)
Sun. 2/27 - Chili Challenge @Victory Brewing Co., Downingtown, PA (12:00pm-3:00pm; PAYG)
Greater Philadelphia Metro / Eastern Pennsylvania
Wed. 2/2 - Opening Night @St. Boniface Craft Brewing Company, Ephrata, PA (6:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/3 - Charity Cask Night (with St. Valentine's Altbier to benefit the Greater Lehigh Valley MDA) @Bethlehem Brew Works, Bethlehem, PA (5:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/4 - Friday Night with Tröegs Brewery @Blue Dog, Lansdale, PA (6:30pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/4 - Meet the Brewery Night @Washington House, Sellersville, PA (5:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG)
RESCHEDULED TO Wed. 2/9 - Ground Dog Day @Craft Ale House, Limerick, PA (6:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/10 - Tröegs Night @Canal Street Pub, Reading, PA (6:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/11 - Chocolate Beer Craziness @Iron Hill, Lancaster, PA (5:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/11 - Bourbon Barrel-aged Insidious @all Fegley Brew Works locations, Allentown & Bethlehem, PA (PAYG)
Thu. 2/17 - Charity Cask Night (with Top o' the Mornin' breakfast stout) @Bethlehem Brew Works, Bethlehem, PA (5:00pm; PAYG)
Sat. 2/19 - Benefit Folk Festival @Stoudt's, Adamstown, PA (4:00pm-10:00pm; $10/$12/children under 12, free)
Mon. 2/21 - Hopslam Tapping @Craft Ale House, Limerick, PA (6:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/25 - Polar Bear Party (on the patio with a cask of English Barleywine) @Iron Hill, Lancaster, PA (5:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG)
Sat. 2/26 - Wood 2.0 Barrel-Aged Fest @Union Jack's on the Manatawny, Boyertown, PA (PAYG)
Sun. 2/27 - Under the Tuscan Sun: Bridal Fair and Event Extravaganza @Allentown Brew Works, Allentown, PA (11:00am-3:00pm; $5/$8)
Events Over $20
Philadelphia
Tue. 2/1 - Glazen Toren Belgian Beer Dinner @Fork & Barrel, Philadelphia, PA ($65)
Mon. 2/7 - Yards Beer Dinner @Brauhaus Schmitz, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm-10:00pm; $50)
Tue. 2/8 - Lost Abbey Beer Dinner (with Tomme Arthur) @Monk's Café, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm; $75)
Wed. 2/9 - Brew Works Beer Dinner @White Dog Café, Philadelphia, PA (6:30pm; $50)
Fri. 2/11 - Flying Fish Valentine's Beer Dinner @City Tap House, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm; $55)
Sat. 2/12 - Winter Beer Fest @Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA (1:00pm-5:00pm, 6:00pm-10:00pm; $10/$40/$50)
Mon. 2/14 - Love Day Monday Beer Dinner @Hawthorne Café, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm-9:00pm; $65)
Mon. 2/14 - Valentine's Day Cider Dinner @Fork & Barrel, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm-10:00pm; $55)
Sat. 2/19 - Pork, Yards & Pints (PYP) @The Institute, Philadelphia, PA (2:00pm-6:00pm; $40)
Sun. 2/20 - Grilled Cheese and Beer Pairing @World Café Live, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm; $35)
Sat. 2/26 - Beats, Brews, and BBQ @World Café Live, Philadelphia, PA (12:00pm-5:00pm; $20/$45/$60)
Philadelphia's close suburbs
Sat. 2/5 - Main Line Beer, Wine & Food Festival @Desmond Hotel & Conference Center, Malvern, PA (12:00pm-3:30pm; $35/$40)
Wed. 2/16 - Wine versus Beer vertical dinner @Iron Abbey, Horsham, PA (7:00pm-9:00pm; $60)
Wed. 2/16 & Thu. 2/17 - Five Course Beer Dinner @Iron Hill, Maple Shade, NJ (7:00pm; $65)
Wed. 2/23 - Victory 15th Anniversary Beer Dinner @Side Bar and Restaurant, West Chester, PA (6:45pm-10:00pm; $50)
Thu. 2/24 - Yards Beer Dinner @Wegmans, Malvern, PA (6:00pm-8:30pm; $35)
Greater Philadelphia Metro / Eastern Pennsylvania
Wed. 2/9 - Chocolate and Beer Pairing @Iron Hill, Lancaster, PA (7:00pm-9:00pm; $25)
Sat. 2/19 - Friend Fest: A Beer and Wine Festival & Benefit @Beltzner Hall at the Kutztown Fairgrounds, Kutztown, PA (2:00pm-5:00pm, 6:00pm-9:00pm; $50/$35/$10)
Sat. 2/26 - Winter Beer Fest @Stoudt's, Adamstown, PA (7:00pm-11:00pm; $35)
If I'm missing any that you feel should be on here, let me know.
$20 and under, down to and including FREE...Pay As You Go (PAYG) also included here
Philadelphia
Tue. 2/1 - Movie Night (Fargo) @Dock Street, Philadelphia, PA (8:30pm; PAYG)
Tue. 2/1 - Stillwater Artisinal Ales Night @Eulogy Belgian Tavern, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm; PAYG)
Wed. 2/2 - Groundhog Day Hawaiian Shirt Beer Breakfast and Lucky Cat Beer Prognostication @The Grey Lodge Pub, Philadelphia, PA (7:00am-12:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/3 - New Holland Night @Varga Bar, Philadelphia, PA (8:00pm-11:30pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/3 - Meet 'n' Eat (with New Holland's brewmaster John Haggerty) @Tria, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; $TBD)
Thu. 2/3 - Ballast Point Tower Takeover @Devil's Den, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/4 - Friday Night Tasting (Ommegang) @Bella Vista Beverage, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; Free)
Fri. 2/4 - Friday Night Tasting (Southern Tier) @Bell's Beverage, Philadelphia, PA (4:00pm-6:00pm; Free)
Sat. 2/5 - Soul and Suds (with Fred & John from New Holland and Dr. Joel as DJ) @Kraftwork, Philadelphia, PA (9:00pm; PAYG)
Sat. 2/5 - Vegan Wing Bowl 2011 & Cricket Hill Beer Special @The Abbaye, Philadelphia, PA (3:00pm-5:00pm; $10/$20)
Sun. 2/6 - New Holland Pre-Super Bowl Beer Brunch @South Philadelphia Tap Room, Philadelphia, PA (12:00pm-3:00pm; PAYG)
Sun. 2/6 - Super Bowl Sunday with foods and beers from Green Bay and Pittsburgh @Jose Pistolas, Philadelphia, PA (12:00pm; PAYG)
Mon. 2/7 - Mad Monday (with Jodi Stoudt and her beer) @Monk's Café, Philadelphia, PA (11:30am; PAYG)
Tue. 2/8 - Movie Night (Sexy Beast) @Dock Street, Philadelphia, PA (8:30pm; PAYG)
Tue. 2/8 - Rock the Bells @Khyber Pass Pub, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm-12:00am; PAYG)
Wed. 2/9 - Ommegang Night @Old Eagle Tavern, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG)
Wed. 2/9 - Odyssey Firkin @Standard Tap, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm; PAYG)
Wed. 2/9 - Bell's Tap Takeover Happy Hour @South Philadelphia Tap Room, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/10 - Jolly Pumpkin Night @Kite and Key, Philadelphia, PA (PAYG)
Fri. 2/11 - Friday Night Tasting (Sam Adams) @Bell's Beverage, Philadelphia, PA (4:00pm-6:00pm; Free)
Fri. 2/11 - Keep the Glass Night (Yuengling Bock) @Hop Angel Brauhaus, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/11 - White Birch Brewery Night @Devil's Den, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/11 - Friday Night Tasting (McSorley's) @Bella Vista Beverage, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; Free)
Sat. 2/12 - The Kharma Factor (homebrew competition) @City Tap House, Philadelphia, PA (2:00pm; PAYG)
Sat. 2/12 - Wood'ja @Nodding Head, Philadelphia, PA (3:00pm-6:00pm; PAYG)
Sun. 2/13 - Complimentary Yards Love Stout while you shop @Verde, Philadelphia, PA (12:00pm-6:00pm; Free)
Mon. 2/14 - Valentine's with a Sexy Beast (special dinner and release event) @Dock Street, Philadelphia, PA (PAYG)
Wed. 2/16 - Victory Headwaters Pale Ale Release and Anniversary Party @Resurrection Ale House, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm-10:00pm; PAYG)
Wed. 2/16 - Ballast Point Night @McMenamin's, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/17 - Late Night with Joe Gunn, featuring Allagash's Rob Tod @Jose Pistolas, Philadelphia, PA (11:00pm-2:00am; PAYG)
Thu. 2/17 - Meet the brewer/owner: BFM's Jerome Rebetez @Fork & Barrel, Philadelphia, PA (6:30pm-10:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/17 - Weyerbacher Happy Hour @White Dog Café, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/17 - Kill the Cask Night (Yards) @Khyber Pass Pub, Philadelphia, PA (4:00pm-10:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/17 - Ommegang and Chocolate Night @Devil's Den, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/17 - Victory Headwaters Pale Ale Release and Anniversary Party @Kraftwork, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/18 - Shoot the Shit with Roy Pitz, Shoot Darts Too @The Grey Lodge Pub, Philadelphia, PA (8:00pm-10:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/18 - Friday Night Tasting (Sam Adams) @Bella Vista Beverage, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; Free)
Fri. 2/18 - Lew Bryson Book Signing @Yards Brewing, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/18 - Friday Night Tasting (Oskar Blues) @Bell's Beverage, Philadelphia, PA (4:00pm-6:00pm; Free)
Mon. 2/21 - President's Day with The Founding Fathers @Old Eagle Tavern, Philadelphia, PA (4:00pm-10:00pm; PAYG)
Mon. 2/21 - Monk's Mad Monday (with Sierra Nevada) @Monk's Café, Philadelphia, PA (11:30am; PAYG)
Tue. 2/22 - Movie Night (Viewers Choice) @Dock Street, Philadelphia, PA (8:30pm; PAYG)
Wed. 2/23 - Keep the Mug Night (Radeberger) @Hop Angel Brauhaus, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG)
Wed. 2/23 - Beer and Cheese pairings (Sly Fox and Dogfish Head, Whole Foods) @Kite and Key, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/24 - Got an IPA itch? Let Tröegs Scratch You 4 Ways to Thursday @The Grey Lodge Pub, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/24 - National Chili Day (featuring Bell's Brewery) @Jose Pistolas, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/25 - Friday Night Tasting (Victory) @Bella Vista Beverage, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; Free)
Fri. 2/25 - Friday Night Tasting (Bear Republic) @Bell's Beverage, Philadelphia, PA (4:00pm-6:00pm; Free)
Sat. 2/26 - Pinups and Porters (and Voodoo Brewery) @The Institute, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm-12:00am; PAYG)
Sun. 2/27 - Brunch with Lew @Devil's Den, Philadelphia, PA (11:00am-2:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/25-Sun. 2/27 - Pop-Up Brewery: Fegley's Brew Works @City Tap House, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm; PAYG)
Sun. 2/27 - We're Getting Younger @Khyber Pass Pub, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm; PAYG)
Mon. 2/28 - Monk's Mad Monday (with Russian River) @Monk's Café, Philadelphia, PA (11:30am; PAYG)
Philadelphia's close suburbs
every Wednesday 1/12 through 3/16 - St. Patrick's Day Boot Camp @Sly Fox, Phoenixville, PA (5:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG)
every Thursday 1/13 through 3/17 - St. Patrick's Day Boot Camp @Sly Fox, Royersford, PA (5:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG)
Wed. 2/2 - Sixpoint Brewery Night @Iron Abbey, Horsham, PA (8:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/3 - Brewery Promo Night (Ballast Point) @Isaac Newton's, Newtown, PA (7:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/3 - First Thursday Beer Sampling @Whole Foods, Plymouth Meeting, PA (6:00pm-8:00pm; Free)
Fri. 2/4 - Meet the Brewer (with New Holland Brewing's John Haggerty) @Iron Hill, West Chester, PA (5:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/4 - Polar Bear Party (on the patio with a cask of Winter Warmer) @Iron Hill, Media, PA (5:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/4 - February Firkin Series (Imperial Red Ale) @Iron Hill, Media, PA (5:00pm; PAYG)
Sat. 2/5 - The Kharma Factor (homebrew competition) @Hulmeville Inn, Hulmeville, PA (2:00pm; PAYG)
Wed. 2/9 - Chocolate Cherry Stout Release @Iron Hill, North Wales, PA (5:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/10 - Craft Ale Night (Bell's Brewery) @Pickering Creek Inn, Phoenixville, PA (6:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/11 - Friday Night Sampling (Victory) @Exton Beverage, Exton, PA (4:00pm-6:00pm; Free)
Fri. 2/11 - February Firkin Series (Bourbon Chocolate Pumpkin Ale) @Iron Hill, Media, PA (5:00pm; PAYG)
Sat. 2/12 - Bell's @The Drafting Room, Exton, PA (12:00pm; PAYG)
Sat. 2/12 - British Invasion @Iron Hill, Phoenixville, PA (12:00pm-7:00pm; PAYG)
Tue. 2/15 - 15th Anniversary Party @Victory Brewing Co., Downingtown, PA (all day and night; PAYG)
Tue. 2/15 - Tasty Tuesday Tap Takeover with Tröegs @Teresa's Next Door, Wayne, PA (PAYG)
Thu. 2/17 - Sierra Nevada Tapping @Capone's Restaurant, Norristown, PA (11:30am; PAYG)
Fri. 2/18 - February Firkin Series (Noel vs. Smokin' Blonde) @Iron Hill, Media, PA (5:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/18 - Friday Night Tasting (Victory Headwaters Pale Ale) @Beer Yard, Wayne, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; Free)
Fri. 2/18 - Friday Night Tasting (Flying Fish) @Exton Beverage, Exton, PA (4:30pm-6:30pm; Free)
Sat. 2/19 - Saturday Afternoon Tasting (Boxcar Brewing) @Exton Beverage, Exton, PA (1:00pm-3:00pm; Free)
Sun. 2/20 - Kaldi Kreme release @Iron Hill, West Chester, PA (12:00pm-2:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/25 - February Firkin Series (Mocha Porter) @Iron Hill, Media, PA (5:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/25 - Friday Night Tasting (Flying Fish) @Goshen Beverage, West Chester, PA (4:30pm-6:30pm; Free)
Sat. 2/26 - Barrels, Bourbons, and Bugs @Iron Hill, Maple Shade, NJ (12:00pm-5:00pm; PAYG)
Sun. 2/27 - Chili Challenge @Victory Brewing Co., Downingtown, PA (12:00pm-3:00pm; PAYG)
Greater Philadelphia Metro / Eastern Pennsylvania
Wed. 2/2 - Opening Night @St. Boniface Craft Brewing Company, Ephrata, PA (6:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/3 - Charity Cask Night (with St. Valentine's Altbier to benefit the Greater Lehigh Valley MDA) @Bethlehem Brew Works, Bethlehem, PA (5:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/4 - Friday Night with Tröegs Brewery @Blue Dog, Lansdale, PA (6:30pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/4 - Meet the Brewery Night @Washington House, Sellersville, PA (5:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG)
RESCHEDULED TO Wed. 2/9 - Ground Dog Day @Craft Ale House, Limerick, PA (6:00pm; PAYG)
Thu. 2/10 - Tröegs Night @Canal Street Pub, Reading, PA (6:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/11 - Chocolate Beer Craziness @Iron Hill, Lancaster, PA (5:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/11 - Bourbon Barrel-aged Insidious @all Fegley Brew Works locations, Allentown & Bethlehem, PA (PAYG)
Thu. 2/17 - Charity Cask Night (with Top o' the Mornin' breakfast stout) @Bethlehem Brew Works, Bethlehem, PA (5:00pm; PAYG)
Sat. 2/19 - Benefit Folk Festival @Stoudt's, Adamstown, PA (4:00pm-10:00pm; $10/$12/children under 12, free)
Mon. 2/21 - Hopslam Tapping @Craft Ale House, Limerick, PA (6:00pm; PAYG)
Fri. 2/25 - Polar Bear Party (on the patio with a cask of English Barleywine) @Iron Hill, Lancaster, PA (5:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG)
Sat. 2/26 - Wood 2.0 Barrel-Aged Fest @Union Jack's on the Manatawny, Boyertown, PA (PAYG)
Sun. 2/27 - Under the Tuscan Sun: Bridal Fair and Event Extravaganza @Allentown Brew Works, Allentown, PA (11:00am-3:00pm; $5/$8)
Events Over $20
Philadelphia
Tue. 2/1 - Glazen Toren Belgian Beer Dinner @Fork & Barrel, Philadelphia, PA ($65)
Mon. 2/7 - Yards Beer Dinner @Brauhaus Schmitz, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm-10:00pm; $50)
Tue. 2/8 - Lost Abbey Beer Dinner (with Tomme Arthur) @Monk's Café, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm; $75)
Wed. 2/9 - Brew Works Beer Dinner @White Dog Café, Philadelphia, PA (6:30pm; $50)
Fri. 2/11 - Flying Fish Valentine's Beer Dinner @City Tap House, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm; $55)
Sat. 2/12 - Winter Beer Fest @Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA (1:00pm-5:00pm, 6:00pm-10:00pm; $10/$40/$50)
Mon. 2/14 - Love Day Monday Beer Dinner @Hawthorne Café, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm-9:00pm; $65)
Mon. 2/14 - Valentine's Day Cider Dinner @Fork & Barrel, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm-10:00pm; $55)
Sat. 2/19 - Pork, Yards & Pints (PYP) @The Institute, Philadelphia, PA (2:00pm-6:00pm; $40)
Sun. 2/20 - Grilled Cheese and Beer Pairing @World Café Live, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm; $35)
Sat. 2/26 - Beats, Brews, and BBQ @World Café Live, Philadelphia, PA (12:00pm-5:00pm; $20/$45/$60)
Philadelphia's close suburbs
Sat. 2/5 - Main Line Beer, Wine & Food Festival @Desmond Hotel & Conference Center, Malvern, PA (12:00pm-3:30pm; $35/$40)
Wed. 2/16 - Wine versus Beer vertical dinner @Iron Abbey, Horsham, PA (7:00pm-9:00pm; $60)
Wed. 2/16 & Thu. 2/17 - Five Course Beer Dinner @Iron Hill, Maple Shade, NJ (7:00pm; $65)
Wed. 2/23 - Victory 15th Anniversary Beer Dinner @Side Bar and Restaurant, West Chester, PA (6:45pm-10:00pm; $50)
Thu. 2/24 - Yards Beer Dinner @Wegmans, Malvern, PA (6:00pm-8:30pm; $35)
Greater Philadelphia Metro / Eastern Pennsylvania
Wed. 2/9 - Chocolate and Beer Pairing @Iron Hill, Lancaster, PA (7:00pm-9:00pm; $25)
Sat. 2/19 - Friend Fest: A Beer and Wine Festival & Benefit @Beltzner Hall at the Kutztown Fairgrounds, Kutztown, PA (2:00pm-5:00pm, 6:00pm-9:00pm; $50/$35/$10)
Sat. 2/26 - Winter Beer Fest @Stoudt's, Adamstown, PA (7:00pm-11:00pm; $35)
Friday, January 28, 2011
SF Beer Week: the real San Francisco Treat
Mother Nature willing, I'll be in San Francisco three weeks from now getting ready to celebrate the kick-off of its Beer Week. Its schedule is shaping up quite nicely with nearly 300 events around the City and across to the East Bay in places like Hayward, Lafayette, Berkeley, and Oakland, to the north in Santa Rosa, Petaluma, and Healdsburg, and to the south in Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, and Santa Cruz.On Sunday the 13th, I'll be co-hosting a 5-mile run with Brian Yaeger (Red, White, & Brew) and Derrick Peterman (Ramblings of a Beer Runner). We'll begin and end at one of the city's newest breweries, Social Kitchen & Brewery. SKB is operated by SFBW cohort, brewer, and Master Cicerone, Rich Higgins. At its location just off of Golden Gate Park, I'm quite anxious to see how they are ramping up after just a few quick months in business.
The run should be spectacular as it weaves its way through Golden Gate Park and in to the Haight/Ashbury District, with a peel-off point along the way for those looking for a shorter run, and back to SKB. Arrangements have been made for all runners to receive a $1 off each beer after returning from the run.
I'm already predicting that SKB's Kölsch will be my first post-run beer. Probably followed with some bites to eat and an IPA and an Altbier.
SFBW puts on a great display of Bay Area beer and bars and I'm expecting this year to be no different. Plus, the weather will be spectacular compared to what I leave behind on the East Coast.
I already hear that Rich from RichOnBeer will be there from Pennsylvania. Anyone else traveling from a significant distance to attend? Bay Area readers need not reply; you guys are gimmees :)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Weekly Beer Calendar Update: January 27 - January 31
January goes out with a bang on the beer event calendar in and around Philadelphia.
Check out the entire January 2011 calendar over here.
If I'm missing any that you feel should be on here, let me know.
Tastings, samplings, parties, and festivals
@Beer Heaven, Philadelphia, PA--- Fri. 1/28 - Beer Tasting (5:00pm-7:00pm; Free tasting samples of Philadelphia Brewing)
@Kite & Key, Philadelphia, PA--- Thu. 1/27 - Firkin Jakes Birthday aka Birthday Celebration For Our Favorite Canadian (7:00pm; PAYG for Firkin of Love Stout, Bourbon Bart, and other tasty treats)
Boot Camp, where only the strong survive
@Sly Fox, Phoenixville, PA--- every Wednesday 1/12 through 3/16 - St. Patrick's Day Boot Camp (5:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG for a night of beer, dinner, and live music)
@Sly Fox, Royersford, PA--- every Thursday 1/13 through 3/17 - St. Patrick's Day Boot Camp (5:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG for a night of beer, dinner, and live music)
Beer and Food together, naturally
@Khyber Pass Pub, Philadelphia, PA--- Sat. 1/29 - 3rd Annualish Khyber Beer Chili Cook-off (1:00pm-5:00pm; PAYG)
@The Drafting Room, Exton, PA--- Sun. 1/30 - Stout Beer Brunch (11:00am; $16.95 for a brunch buffet and a PAYG beer list including Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, Dogfish Head World Wide Stout, Flying Fish Exit 13, Founder's Kentucky Breakfast Stout, Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout, Nøgne Ø, Dark Horizon [first edition], Port Brewing Older Viscosity, Rogue Russian Imperial Stout ['09], Stoudt's Fat Dog, and Weyerbacher 15)
@South Philadelphia Tap Room, Philadelphia, PA--- Sun. 1/30 - Beef and Beer 2011 (4:00pm-8:00pm; $50 for a gourmet menu by Chef Scott Schroeder featuring locally-raised beef and all the fixings along with firkins of beer like Dock Street's Dry-Hopped OMGPA, Dogfish Head's 75 Minute, Philadelphia Brewing's Shackamaximum, Sly Fox's Chester County Bitter and Robbie Burns, and Tröegs' Nugget Nectar)
An event that stands alone
@Iron Hill, West Chester, PA--- Sat. 1/29 - Belgium Comes to West Chester (12:00pm-5:00pm; PAYG for sour, funky, and otherwise interestingly strange Belgian-inspired brews from Iron Hill, Brooklyn Brewing, Cambridge Brewing, Devil’s Backbone, Dogfish Head, Flying Fish, Harpoon, Ithaca Beer Company, Manayunk Brewing, New Holland Brewing, Nodding Head, Sly Fox, Stewart’s, Stoudt’s, Tröegs, Victory, and Yards)
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Brooklyn comes to Chifa
Chifa Restaurant in Philadelphia is leaving little doubt of its intention to serve up some of the Philadelphia region's most interesting and creative beer pairing dinners.
Last week, Patty and I attended the Brooklyn Beer Dinner hosted by Iron Chef Jose Garces and Brewmaster Garrett Oliver. It was the largest and most ambitious beer dinner undertaking of Chifa's to date. After a delayed start, management and staff fell right into line and executed a nearly glitch-free dinner.
Pictures and full menu follow below.
My full review of the dinner can be found in The Communities section over at The Washington Times.
(dinner hosts: Jose Garces, left, and Garrett Oliver)
(The back dining room at Chifa's Brooklyn Beer Dinner on 1/20/11)
(180 glasses of Sorachi Aces on the wall)
(Garrett Oliver regaled the dinner guests between each of the courses)
(Jose Garces took time from the kitchen to meet with his dinner guests)
(Jose Garces with his dinner guests and Machu Picchu as a backdrop)
(Amuse-bouche Course: Hiramisa)
(First Course: Buffalo Tartare)
(Second Course: Quail and Chorizo)
(Third Course: Pork Ribs)
(Fourth Course: Venison)
(Dessert Course: Pound Cake)
(Dark beers and red hues were the order of the ambiance)
~Amuse~
Hiramisa with White Chocolate, persimmon, and red veined sorrel
- paired with Sorachi Ace
~First Course~
Buffalo Tartare with Cacao Nibs, roasted baby beets, goat cheese, and beet chips
- paired with Local 2
~Second Course~
Quail with Chorizo, harissa mustard, potato and chantarelle escabeche, and dark chocolate demi
- paired with East India Pale Ale
~Third Course~
Pork Ribs with Chocolate BBQ sauce, ginger-fennel orange slaw
- paired with Dark Matter
~Fourth Course~
Venison, Chocolate-crusted with red chili tamale, mole, and macerated figs
- paired with Black Chocolate Stout ['03]
~Dessert~
Pound Cake, beer-brushed with malted milk chocolate ice cream, chocolate coated frozen baby bananas, and waffle cone tuile
- paired with Black Ops ['09]
My media invite must have been lost in the mail
"Can you do the two inside ones?"
Boy, these guys were really milking it. And she sure looked super-thrilled to be there. This could actually be the Bud Light news of the year, y'think?
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Know what else is great about Belgian beer in the Delaware Valley?
On the heels of a successful day at TJ's with a bevy of imported Belgian beer, several that many had never heard of from smaller less-known breweries, comes Iron Hill's regionally-inspired Belgian-style beer next Saturday.
The eagerly-anticipated annual event in West Chester on 1/29 looks to probably be snow-free which virtually guarantees a packed house and beers that will kick even sooner than usual.
I'd post the tap list here, but that'd be cheap. Especially considering that host brewer, Larry Horwitz, put all the effort into writing some insightful first-person descriptions for all the beers, arriving from Cambridge, Massachusetts (Cambridge Brewing) to Roseland, Virginia (Devil's Backbone) and most from our own backyards here in the Delaware Valley.
Therefore, go check out the full list and writeup by Larry over on Iron Hill's site.
I would try to tell you which I'm looking most forward to drinking next Saturday, but I'd likely be copying and pasting the entire list. I'm guessing you'll probably agree?
Run to stay warm...and drink Belgian beer at TJ's
It was cold, like 8 degrees wind-chill cold--fahrenheit, not celsius, for any of you unaware or not in the northeast this week.
We ran, the five of us--two from Philly (Kevin and Eric, Fishtown Beer Runner superstars) and the two Steves from TJ's.
The Belgians awaited. We ate, drank, laughed, and refueled some more. Best post-run beer on the tap list? Easily the 3.5% ABV Dupont Avril. The tastiest session beer and it maintains the distinctive Saison flavor. Jack would've been pleased.
Big Dan showed up. We left.
I watched the tap list throughout the evening to determine if we might make a second session trip back to TJ's Belgian Beer Paradise event for a De Dolles Oerbier or Dulle Teve. Not to be on this particular Saturday, though.
Tomorrow, the weekday keg kicker special returns with spectacular $3 deals on the following (subject to availability, of course): Petrus Aged Pale; Sint Canarus Potteloereke; Brasserie de Cazeau Noel; TJ's 7th Anniversary Ale.
Oh, and of what is left today according to TJ's real-time tap list, the following carry a consensus recommendation based on my own preferences as well as others that I heard around me.
Gouden Carolus Grand Cru. Brasserie Ellezelloise Hercule Stout. Brasserie des Rocs
Triple Imperiale. Brasserie Dupont Moinette Brune. Boon Kriek. La Rulles Tripel. De Dochter Finesse.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Weekly Beer Calendar Update: January 20 - January 26
It's all beer all the time with at least one scheduled event somewhere in or around Philadelphia every day in the coming week.
Check out the entire January 2011 calendar over here.
If I'm missing any that you feel should be on here, let me know.
Tastings, samplings, parties, and festivals
@Devil's Den, Philadelphia, PA--- Wed. 1/26 - Stillwater Night @Devil's Den, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG for Stateside Saison, Saison Darkly, and Existent)
@Fork & Barrel's Cask Saloon, Philadelphia, PA--- Thu. 1/20 - Sly Fox Night (7:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG for tastings from three different firkins of Sly Fox beer)
@Island Pizza, Birdsboro, PA--- Fri. 1/21 - Meet the Brewer and Pint Night (7:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG for two of Stoudt's beer on tap, five in the bottle, and Eddie Stoudt to talk shop)
@Starlight Ballroom, Philadelphia, PA--- Sat. 1/22 - Winter Beer Fest (1:00pm-5:00pm, 6:00pm-10:00pm; $35/$40/$50 for unlimited free samples all session long from over 30 breweries)
@The Drafting Room, Exton, PA--- Fri. 1/21 - Presenting Long Trail Brewing Co. (6:00pm; PAYG for a lineup due to include Brewmaster Coffee Stout, Brewmaster Imperial Porter, Brewmaster Imperial Red, Hibernator Scotch Ale, Pale Ale, Unfiltered IPA, Double Bag Strong Ale, and Long Trail Ale)
Other big and fun tastings
@Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA--- Sat. 1/22 - The Trouble with Tripels II (11:00am; PAYG for a lineup due to include Allagash Tripel, Brew Works Triple, Dock Street Prisoner of Hell, Flying Fish Exit 4, River Horse Triplehorse, Stoudt's Abbey Tripel, Victory Golden Monkey, Weyerbacher Merry Monks, and more to be announced)
@Sly Fox, Phoenixville, PA--- Fri. 1/21 - Bobbie Burns Birthday Bash (6:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG for a night of Gang Aft Agley Scotch Ale and Burns Scottish Ale, bagpiping, haggis, Celtic Rock, and more)
@The Belgian Café, Philadelphia, PA--- Sat. 1/22 - Philadelphia Beer Experience – Fairmount Edition (11:30am-5:00pm; $35 and you'll get beers and snacks starting at The Belgian Café, then walking on to Jack’s Firehouse, London Grill, and Bridgid’s)
@TJs, Paoli, PA--- Sat. 1/22 - Belgian Beer Paradise (12:00pm; PAYG for way too many fine Belgian beers to list)
@Tria Café, Philadelphia, PA--- Fri. 1/21 - Beer 101 (6:30pm-8:00pm; $50 for a tasting, discussion with Jon Myerow, and cheese and light snacks)
Boot Camp, where only the strong survive
@Sly Fox, Phoenixville, PA--- every Wednesday 1/12 through 3/16 - St. Patrick's Day Boot Camp (5:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG for a night of beer, dinner, and live music)
@Sly Fox, Royersford, PA--- every Thursday 1/13 through 3/17 - St. Patrick's Day Boot Camp (5:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG for a night of beer, dinner, and live music)
Beer Dinners
@Chifa Restaurant, Philadelphia, PA--- Thu. 1/20 - Brooklyn Beer Dinner with Garrett Oliver (7:00pm; $85 for a six-course meal paired with Sorachi Ace, Local 2, East India Pale Ale, Dark Matter, Black Chocolate Stout ['03], and Black Ops ['09])
@Iron Hill, Wilmington, DE--- Wed. 1/26 - Brewmaster's Winter Beer Dinner (7:00pm; $60 for a five-course meal paired with Saison, Smokin' Blonde, Belgian Quadrupel, English Barleywine, and Afternoon Delight)
@Monk's Café, Philadelphia, PA--- Tue. 1/25 - Brooklyn Beer Dinner with Steve Hindy (7:00pm; $65 for a six-course meal paired with Local 1, Sorachi Ace, Local 2, Black Chocolate Stout, Monster ['01], and Black Ops)
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Q&A with Jose Garces and Garrett Oliver
Ten years ago, Jose Garces was part of the growing Stephen Starr empire of Philadelphia restaurants. He was barely thirty years of age and was making a name for himself in the culinary world.
Not quite 40, Garces is now growing his own empire of restaurants in Philadelphia. In just the last five years, he has opened seven restaurants in the city and has been named Iron Chef on The Food Network, which he can count amongst numerous other accolades.
Ten years ago, Garrett Oliver was continuing to grow the Brooklyn Brewery reputation for well-crafted American beer and furthering his own reputation in the intersecting culinary world. He was in the midst of finalizing what many would come to call a hallmark book, The Brewmaster's Table, and traveling the world in search of great beer and food, spreading the message along the way.
Tomorrow night, January 20, 2011, these two larger-than-life figures in the world of food and beverage come together at Garces' Chifa Restaurant in Philadelphia to create a six-course, chocolate-themed dinner. This dinner was originally scheduled in August 2010. The postponement gave guests another five months to even more eagerly anticipate this dinner.
I recently had the opportunity to ask questions of both Garces and Oliver and the conversation follows below. Thanks to Jennie Hatton of Profile PR for facilitating this Q&A.
Check back next week for a full wrap-up of what promises to be a memorable dinner. Until then, you can check out the planned menu via this link. And, by the way, if you're thinking you'd like to still get in on this dinner, the restaurant has said that they began working a waiting list in light of a few cancellations--so, you may wish to call the restaurant.
Bryan Kolesar/The Brew Lounge: How much time did the two of you personally spend together constructing this dinner?
Jose Garces: I've wanted to collaborate with Brooklyn Brewery ever since we started our beer dinners at Chifa. In terms of menu planning and coordinating our schedules, it was a challenge to bring two such busy people together--it took several months to get everything lined up and settled on a date that worked for us both.
TBL: Do you have a history together or has this been the most you've worked together to-date? Where did the idea for this dinner event come from?
Jose: Philadelphia is a beer-loving town, and we've hosted a very successful series of beer dinners at Chifa, pairing our Latin-Asian cuisine with various craft beers, rather than wines, to introduce our guests to the delicious potential of artisanal beer and how beautifully it complements food. Brooklyn Brewery was a natural choice, both because they're located relatively nearby and because I've always been a fan of their beers. Garrett and I previously worked together on a successful, sold-out beer dinner at Amada, and I'm thrilled to work with him again.
Garrett Oliver: It happened pretty quickly by e-mail. Unusually, though, at our last beer dinner together at Amada, Jose spent almost the whole beer dinner at our table, which was nice.
TBL: Chocolate jumps out as an obvious theme in this dinner. Where did this particular inspiration come from?
Jose: Both Garrett and I use chocolate in unusual ways, and when we started conceptualizing the menu for this meal we found that we both had chocolate components in mind - so we ran with it as a theme from there.
TBL: Was there much taste-testing to prove out the concept?
Garrett: It wasn't necessary, because I've eaten at Chifa a number of times--I understand chef's approach to flavor.
TBL: Are there other inspirations/themes in the menu that we may not pick up on?
Jose: I think the driving influence behind the whole meal is coupling flavorful food with flavorful beer - exploring how they can highlight each others' tastes and make the meal more satisfying.
TBL: You've got quite a resume to your name and Garrett literally wrote the book on Beer and Food. There's quite an excitement leading up to this dinner. What are your expectations for the night as a whole? Is there a course that you expect to be a grand slam?
Jose: I think it's going to be a very special and delicious evening. It's always great to be able to interact with my guests and share interesting food and beverage pairings with them, and I think that having Garrett on hand will make it that much more exciting.
TBL: For you personally, where do your beverage tendencies fall or are you an equal opportunity imbiber?
Jose: As with food, I'm a fan of many different beverages, from craft beer to great wine to bourbon. What I drink on a given day depends on a lot of things, including what I'm having to eat (and what I need to get done that day!).
TBL: Garrett, regarding your book which is nearing ten years since its first printing, what gaps do you feel you've left in covering the subject and are you planning a follow-up?
Garrett: Right now I'm finishing up "The Oxford Companion to Beer" which will be published this year by Oxford University Press. It will cover 1,172 subjects, and I'm editor-in-chief. After that, I think I'll just make beer for a while.
TBL: Jose, you've begun building your own resume of beer dinners. Talk about the complexities of making a "collaborative" dinner like this happen. For example, challenges, lessons learned, etc.
Jose: I'm not always available to cook personally for our beer dinners, but my chef de cuisine, Natalie Maronski, and general manager, Marc Grika, are both beer lovers who do a tremendous job of facilitating these special meals. It can be tough logistically to coordinate with a brewer and select a particular date for their event, but it's always worth it to be able to bring in extraordinary products and create a menu that spotlights them. My team and I also put in extra time to make sure that each course pairs well with the beers that the brewer has chosen to share with us, but again--it's worth it to create a menu of fun, unusual dishes.
TBL: Can you name a beer that you find the most versatile in cooking?
Jose: It depends so much on what I'm cooking that I don't think I could name just one. I'd pair totally different beers with the tapas at Tinto than with the seasonal American plates at JG Domestic.
TBL: And, Garrett, you do numerous beer dinners every year around the country. How do you expect this one to be different than any in the past?
Garrett: I like the fact that we're doing almost tapas-like small plates. The chocolate theme is unique--I've never done that before, though I've done a lot of straight "beer and chocolate" tastings. And Jose's seasoning style is balanced, but really punchy.
TBL: Do you have a favorite, or most memorable, beer dinner to-date?
Garrett: After 700 beer dinners in 10 countries, that's pretty tough. Per Se was a highlight, as was Mathias Dahlgren (Grand Hotel, Stockholm) last year. Beer dinners can be hard to compare, though - we've done great beer dinners in small neighborhood restaurants too.
TBL: Along the same lines, do you have a can't-miss beer and food pairing recommendation for newbies?
Garrett: I wrote a 360-page book about that, and you want me to pick one?! Well, you're not going to go wrong with good smoked salmon, fresh cream cheese, good bread, and a nice Belgian-style witbier, I'll tell you that.
TBL: To what level of experience and/or interest do you have in the restaurant industry/commercial kitchens?
Garrett: I cook regularly in front of audiences, but I am not a trained chef and have never cooked for a living. Two of our brewers have, though, and we've started a series of dinners where three Brooklyn brewers cook a really serious meal for about 20 people, paired with our beers.
TBL: On the other hand, Jose, do you ever have conversations about a "house beer" brewed just for GRG restaurants?
Jose: Creating or collaborating on a "house beer" is something of a dream of mine, but it can be really tough, partly because the restaurants are all so different and the menus change seasonally.
It's definitely something I'd consider, and we've dipped our toes into that pool before, bringing in new or unusual beers that are only available in Philadelphia at our restaurants, such as Inedit, a Spanish beer that we debuted exclusively at Amada.
TBL: Where/how do you feel beer shines with food and stands apart from other beverages and where do you think beer comes up short?
Jose: The incredible diversity of beer styles and flavors means that there's almost always a spot-on pairing for any given dish. The challenge, as with wine, is finding the pairing that complements both the dish and the beverage and helps you to discover new aspects of them both, without overwhelming them.
Garrett: Beer does harmonious pairing better because it has a much wider range of flavor than other beverages, from light and lemony to heavily roasted. Beer can come up short against big concentrations of sugar and/or acid, which some wines can handle more easily.
TBL: Describe a major pet peeve of yours when it comes to matter of taste.
Jose: It drives me crazy when people insist that restaurants be hyper-formal places where fun is secondary to a thousand nit-picky steps of service.
We're serving food and drinks - effectively, we're throwing a party every night! - and it should be a fun, convivial affair that leaves people satisfied and happy. There's a time and a place for fine dining, but there's also a time and a place for simple, delicious food served by people who are happy to be doing so, and that's the kind of place where I'd like to eat. The kind of place where the substance of the meal (the food) isn't overshadowed by fussy details.
TBL: Are there other areas of creative dining where you feel either people in your own kitchen or guests in the dining room don't get it and you'd like to scream "why don't you get it?!"
Jose: I've been very fortunate in my career so far that my guests have pretty much always been willing to come along with me for the ride, so to speak, starting with tapas and small-plates-style dining at Amada and right up to our daily-changing menus and meticulous ingredient sourcing at JG Domestic.
Philadelphia is a terrific place to be a chef, because diners here are pretty well educated about food and very adventurous - they're eager to eat well, and that means they're generally eager to try new things and see if they'll like them.
TBL: Speaking of pet peeves, Garrett, how do you respond to something like "pairing beer and food is pretentious"?
Garrett: The very idea is of beer pairing being "pretentious" is absurd, because the purpose of pairing is pleasure. Pleasure is never pretentious--pleasure is elemental. And such a statement pre-supposes that all beer is supposed to be simple. I like my beer the way I like my food and my music--tailored to my mood at the time. Sometimes I want foie gras, sometimes I want a greasy slice of pizza. Beer is like that too--it's a human thing.
TBL: Has cooking with beer been a part of your training and, in turn, part of your tutelage of others? Or has it been more of a recent phenomenon that has made you and other restaurateurs and chefs take notice?
Jose: The current interest in craft beers has inspired me, but I've always looked at beer as a solid choice to complement a great meal.
There's such complexity of flavor there, and it's every bit as effective as wine in enhancing a dish and making different flavors come to the forefront.
TBL: Most beer dinners tend to showcase creative cuisine from the kitchen. Have you witnessed any beer dinners featuring, how shall we say, "everyday food for the common person" that helps people with how they can work with beer in their own home kitchen and food that they might normally prepare?
Garrett: That's exactly what we do when we cook dinner for people. We make some great dishes from scratch and really feature the ease of preparation. Sometimes the chef wants to show off his or her chops by making the beer dinner a fireworks display, but it doesn't have to be. There's a lot to be said for a perfectly cooked lamb chop.
TBL: Give us a glimpse into the last meal you ate.
Garrett: Last night was a beer dinner at Colicchio & Sons. Partridge, venison, turbot, scallops, Fosterkase cheese--it was pretty awesome!
TBL: And, Jose, what does a typical night look like in your home kitchen?
Jose: We love to cook at home, which people sometimes think is strange since I cook all day for a living. But it's a family affair in our house, and dinnertime is an opportunity for all of us to come together and create something delicious while spending time together, both preparing and eating the meal. Last night, my kids and I whipped up waffles for dinner - it's one of their favorite treats to have breakfast at night, and I love that they both enjoy preparing food with me, just as I did with my mother and grandmother growing up.
TBL: Thanks very much to both of you for taking time out for this in advance of the dinner. I probably speak for all your guests when I say that I'm looking forward to an enjoyable night.
Not quite 40, Garces is now growing his own empire of restaurants in Philadelphia. In just the last five years, he has opened seven restaurants in the city and has been named Iron Chef on The Food Network, which he can count amongst numerous other accolades.
Ten years ago, Garrett Oliver was continuing to grow the Brooklyn Brewery reputation for well-crafted American beer and furthering his own reputation in the intersecting culinary world. He was in the midst of finalizing what many would come to call a hallmark book, The Brewmaster's Table, and traveling the world in search of great beer and food, spreading the message along the way.
Tomorrow night, January 20, 2011, these two larger-than-life figures in the world of food and beverage come together at Garces' Chifa Restaurant in Philadelphia to create a six-course, chocolate-themed dinner. This dinner was originally scheduled in August 2010. The postponement gave guests another five months to even more eagerly anticipate this dinner.
I recently had the opportunity to ask questions of both Garces and Oliver and the conversation follows below. Thanks to Jennie Hatton of Profile PR for facilitating this Q&A.
Check back next week for a full wrap-up of what promises to be a memorable dinner. Until then, you can check out the planned menu via this link. And, by the way, if you're thinking you'd like to still get in on this dinner, the restaurant has said that they began working a waiting list in light of a few cancellations--so, you may wish to call the restaurant.
Bryan Kolesar/The Brew Lounge: How much time did the two of you personally spend together constructing this dinner?
Jose Garces: I've wanted to collaborate with Brooklyn Brewery ever since we started our beer dinners at Chifa. In terms of menu planning and coordinating our schedules, it was a challenge to bring two such busy people together--it took several months to get everything lined up and settled on a date that worked for us both.
TBL: Do you have a history together or has this been the most you've worked together to-date? Where did the idea for this dinner event come from?
Jose: Philadelphia is a beer-loving town, and we've hosted a very successful series of beer dinners at Chifa, pairing our Latin-Asian cuisine with various craft beers, rather than wines, to introduce our guests to the delicious potential of artisanal beer and how beautifully it complements food. Brooklyn Brewery was a natural choice, both because they're located relatively nearby and because I've always been a fan of their beers. Garrett and I previously worked together on a successful, sold-out beer dinner at Amada, and I'm thrilled to work with him again.
Garrett Oliver: It happened pretty quickly by e-mail. Unusually, though, at our last beer dinner together at Amada, Jose spent almost the whole beer dinner at our table, which was nice.
TBL: Chocolate jumps out as an obvious theme in this dinner. Where did this particular inspiration come from?
Jose: Both Garrett and I use chocolate in unusual ways, and when we started conceptualizing the menu for this meal we found that we both had chocolate components in mind - so we ran with it as a theme from there.
TBL: Was there much taste-testing to prove out the concept?
Garrett: It wasn't necessary, because I've eaten at Chifa a number of times--I understand chef's approach to flavor.
TBL: Are there other inspirations/themes in the menu that we may not pick up on?
Jose: I think the driving influence behind the whole meal is coupling flavorful food with flavorful beer - exploring how they can highlight each others' tastes and make the meal more satisfying.
TBL: You've got quite a resume to your name and Garrett literally wrote the book on Beer and Food. There's quite an excitement leading up to this dinner. What are your expectations for the night as a whole? Is there a course that you expect to be a grand slam?
Jose: I think it's going to be a very special and delicious evening. It's always great to be able to interact with my guests and share interesting food and beverage pairings with them, and I think that having Garrett on hand will make it that much more exciting.
TBL: For you personally, where do your beverage tendencies fall or are you an equal opportunity imbiber?
Jose: As with food, I'm a fan of many different beverages, from craft beer to great wine to bourbon. What I drink on a given day depends on a lot of things, including what I'm having to eat (and what I need to get done that day!).
TBL: Garrett, regarding your book which is nearing ten years since its first printing, what gaps do you feel you've left in covering the subject and are you planning a follow-up?
Garrett: Right now I'm finishing up "The Oxford Companion to Beer" which will be published this year by Oxford University Press. It will cover 1,172 subjects, and I'm editor-in-chief. After that, I think I'll just make beer for a while.
TBL: Jose, you've begun building your own resume of beer dinners. Talk about the complexities of making a "collaborative" dinner like this happen. For example, challenges, lessons learned, etc.
Jose: I'm not always available to cook personally for our beer dinners, but my chef de cuisine, Natalie Maronski, and general manager, Marc Grika, are both beer lovers who do a tremendous job of facilitating these special meals. It can be tough logistically to coordinate with a brewer and select a particular date for their event, but it's always worth it to be able to bring in extraordinary products and create a menu that spotlights them. My team and I also put in extra time to make sure that each course pairs well with the beers that the brewer has chosen to share with us, but again--it's worth it to create a menu of fun, unusual dishes.
TBL: Can you name a beer that you find the most versatile in cooking?
Jose: It depends so much on what I'm cooking that I don't think I could name just one. I'd pair totally different beers with the tapas at Tinto than with the seasonal American plates at JG Domestic.
TBL: And, Garrett, you do numerous beer dinners every year around the country. How do you expect this one to be different than any in the past?
Garrett: I like the fact that we're doing almost tapas-like small plates. The chocolate theme is unique--I've never done that before, though I've done a lot of straight "beer and chocolate" tastings. And Jose's seasoning style is balanced, but really punchy.
TBL: Do you have a favorite, or most memorable, beer dinner to-date?
Garrett: After 700 beer dinners in 10 countries, that's pretty tough. Per Se was a highlight, as was Mathias Dahlgren (Grand Hotel, Stockholm) last year. Beer dinners can be hard to compare, though - we've done great beer dinners in small neighborhood restaurants too.
TBL: Along the same lines, do you have a can't-miss beer and food pairing recommendation for newbies?
Garrett: I wrote a 360-page book about that, and you want me to pick one?! Well, you're not going to go wrong with good smoked salmon, fresh cream cheese, good bread, and a nice Belgian-style witbier, I'll tell you that.
TBL: To what level of experience and/or interest do you have in the restaurant industry/commercial kitchens?
Garrett: I cook regularly in front of audiences, but I am not a trained chef and have never cooked for a living. Two of our brewers have, though, and we've started a series of dinners where three Brooklyn brewers cook a really serious meal for about 20 people, paired with our beers.
TBL: On the other hand, Jose, do you ever have conversations about a "house beer" brewed just for GRG restaurants?
Jose: Creating or collaborating on a "house beer" is something of a dream of mine, but it can be really tough, partly because the restaurants are all so different and the menus change seasonally.
It's definitely something I'd consider, and we've dipped our toes into that pool before, bringing in new or unusual beers that are only available in Philadelphia at our restaurants, such as Inedit, a Spanish beer that we debuted exclusively at Amada.
TBL: Where/how do you feel beer shines with food and stands apart from other beverages and where do you think beer comes up short?
Jose: The incredible diversity of beer styles and flavors means that there's almost always a spot-on pairing for any given dish. The challenge, as with wine, is finding the pairing that complements both the dish and the beverage and helps you to discover new aspects of them both, without overwhelming them.
Garrett: Beer does harmonious pairing better because it has a much wider range of flavor than other beverages, from light and lemony to heavily roasted. Beer can come up short against big concentrations of sugar and/or acid, which some wines can handle more easily.
TBL: Describe a major pet peeve of yours when it comes to matter of taste.
Jose: It drives me crazy when people insist that restaurants be hyper-formal places where fun is secondary to a thousand nit-picky steps of service.
We're serving food and drinks - effectively, we're throwing a party every night! - and it should be a fun, convivial affair that leaves people satisfied and happy. There's a time and a place for fine dining, but there's also a time and a place for simple, delicious food served by people who are happy to be doing so, and that's the kind of place where I'd like to eat. The kind of place where the substance of the meal (the food) isn't overshadowed by fussy details.
TBL: Are there other areas of creative dining where you feel either people in your own kitchen or guests in the dining room don't get it and you'd like to scream "why don't you get it?!"
Jose: I've been very fortunate in my career so far that my guests have pretty much always been willing to come along with me for the ride, so to speak, starting with tapas and small-plates-style dining at Amada and right up to our daily-changing menus and meticulous ingredient sourcing at JG Domestic.
Philadelphia is a terrific place to be a chef, because diners here are pretty well educated about food and very adventurous - they're eager to eat well, and that means they're generally eager to try new things and see if they'll like them.
TBL: Speaking of pet peeves, Garrett, how do you respond to something like "pairing beer and food is pretentious"?
Garrett: The very idea is of beer pairing being "pretentious" is absurd, because the purpose of pairing is pleasure. Pleasure is never pretentious--pleasure is elemental. And such a statement pre-supposes that all beer is supposed to be simple. I like my beer the way I like my food and my music--tailored to my mood at the time. Sometimes I want foie gras, sometimes I want a greasy slice of pizza. Beer is like that too--it's a human thing.
TBL: Has cooking with beer been a part of your training and, in turn, part of your tutelage of others? Or has it been more of a recent phenomenon that has made you and other restaurateurs and chefs take notice?
Jose: The current interest in craft beers has inspired me, but I've always looked at beer as a solid choice to complement a great meal.
There's such complexity of flavor there, and it's every bit as effective as wine in enhancing a dish and making different flavors come to the forefront.
TBL: Most beer dinners tend to showcase creative cuisine from the kitchen. Have you witnessed any beer dinners featuring, how shall we say, "everyday food for the common person" that helps people with how they can work with beer in their own home kitchen and food that they might normally prepare?
Garrett: That's exactly what we do when we cook dinner for people. We make some great dishes from scratch and really feature the ease of preparation. Sometimes the chef wants to show off his or her chops by making the beer dinner a fireworks display, but it doesn't have to be. There's a lot to be said for a perfectly cooked lamb chop.
TBL: Give us a glimpse into the last meal you ate.
Garrett: Last night was a beer dinner at Colicchio & Sons. Partridge, venison, turbot, scallops, Fosterkase cheese--it was pretty awesome!
TBL: And, Jose, what does a typical night look like in your home kitchen?
Jose: We love to cook at home, which people sometimes think is strange since I cook all day for a living. But it's a family affair in our house, and dinnertime is an opportunity for all of us to come together and create something delicious while spending time together, both preparing and eating the meal. Last night, my kids and I whipped up waffles for dinner - it's one of their favorite treats to have breakfast at night, and I love that they both enjoy preparing food with me, just as I did with my mother and grandmother growing up.
TBL: Thanks very much to both of you for taking time out for this in advance of the dinner. I probably speak for all your guests when I say that I'm looking forward to an enjoyable night.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Coming soon to Ambler...great beer at Forest & Main
The news is trickling around the webs, here's a link to their Facebook page where you can learn all about Gerard Olson's and Daniel Endicott's new endeavor, Forest & Main Brewing Company. See pictures, too.
It's at the intersection, conveniently, by the same name and a couple of short blocks from the Ambler train station.
You know what that means, right? Another stop on the R5 pub crawl from Doylestown to Downingtown.
Let's run this Saturday, then drink some great Belgian beer at TJs
Sitting here this morning under a blanket of snow, ice, sleet, and rain gets me to thinking of drier days like this coming Saturday.
It might be short notice, but without even formally announcing it, I already have two other people interested in running up to 5 miles on Saturday around 10:30am in Paoli. We'd start and end at TJs, where close to 30 very good Belgian beers will be available on draft after 12 noon.
So how about you? Sure, it'll be cold--maybe like around 20-25°F--but it looks to be a dry and invigorating run.
mailto:Bryan@BrewLounge.com?subject=TJsBeerRun so I know how many to expect.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Weekly Beer Calendar Update: January 13 - January 19
And the beat goes on through this next week of frigid January here in the Philadelphia region. Grab a great beer and stay warm.
Check out the entire January 2011 calendar over here.
If I'm missing any that you feel should be on here, let me know.
A tasting, a sampling, some freebies
@Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA--- Thu. 1/13 - GRID Magazine release and Yards Firkin Party (4:00pm-7:00pm; PAYG for a firkin of Vanilla Love Stout and the new issue release of GRID Magazine)
@Pickering Creek Inn, Phoenixville, PA--- Thu. 1/13 - Craft Beer Night (6:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG for a selection of beers from California)
@The Bottle Shop, Philadelphia, PA--- Thu. 1/13 - Beer Sampling (6:00pm; Free tasting samples from Victory)
@The Irish Pol, Philadelphia, PA--- Wed. 1/19 - 2nd Annual Paul Bunyan Night (7:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG for a selection of beers from Maine)
@Uno Chicago Grill, Exton, PA--- Tue. 1/18 - Pint Night/Keep the Glass (5:00pm-7:00pm; PAYG for various beers from Victory)
Beer and Food makes sense
@Iron Abbey, Horsham, PA--- Wed. 1/19 - Founders Beer Dinner (7:00pm-9:00pm; $50 for a five-course meal paired with Dry-Hopped Pale Ale, Centennial IPA, Breakfast Stout, Backwards Bastard, and Nemesis)
@The Wishing Well, Philadelphia, PA--- Sun. 1/16 - Ommegang Beer Brunch (11:00am-3:30pm; $30 for four-course brunch paired with Hennepin, BPA, Three Philosophers, and Chocolate Indulgence)
Boot Camp, where only the strong survive
@Sly Fox, Phoenixville, PA--- every Wednesday 1/12 through 3/16 - St. Patrick's Day Boot Camp (5:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG for a night of beer, dinner, and live music)
@Sly Fox, Royersford, PA--- every Thursday 1/13 through 3/17 - St. Patrick's Day Boot Camp (5:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG for a night of beer, dinner, and live music)
Big Fun with Big Specials
@Iron Hill, Maple Shade, NJ--- Sat. 1/15 - Jersey's Finest Release Party (12:00pm; PAYG for a collaboration beer between Flying Fish and Iron Hill/Maple Shade made up of Luca Brasi, Exit 13, cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, Flying Fish Grand Cru, and probably some other stuff from the kitchen sink)
@Teresa's Next Door, Wayne, PA--- Sat. 1/15 - Bottle Blowout (12:00pm; PAYG for 1/2 price bottles for much of their inventory. Plus a raffle drawing at 4pm for a salamanzar of Piraat)
@The Drafting Room, Exton, PA--- Fri. 1/14-Sat. 1/15 - Presenting Stone Brewing Co. (6:00pm; PAYG for Lukcy Basartd, Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, Smoked Porter, and a firkin of Cali-Belgique paired with special food menu items from the kitchen)
@The Institute, Philadelphia, PA--- Sat. 1/15 - 2nd Annual Battle Royal (2:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG for several brewery's beers from California including: North Coast, Ballast Point, Sierra Nevada, Stone, and Bear Republic)
@The Institute, Philadelphia, PA--- Mon. 1/17 - Yelp Movie Club (7:00pm-10:00pm; PAYG for $3 pints from Fegley's Brew Works and a movie)
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
San Francisco Beer Week 2011 countdown
It's back again and the schedule is finally up on the official website. Mother Nature willing, I'll be back there again this year. She interrupted my travel plans last year and I improvised here on the East Coast if you recall.
The 2nd Annual Run is due to take place on Sunday the 13th. I'll have a bit more to tell about this in coming days.
The 2nd Annual Run is due to take place on Sunday the 13th. I'll have a bit more to tell about this in coming days.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Let it Snow, no worries, have a great beer
Some of my favorite memories of living in the City were from snow days. And beer. And, the two together.
Like tonight, for example, where impromptu specials are popping up around town...
City Tap House - Sam Adams Choc Bock tapping
Monk's - Brooklyn Dinner reservation book opened this morning...maybe sold out by now, but worth a stop by just the same
Resurrection Ale House - Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary beers, all $4
The Belgian Cafe - "Tuesday Festivus"
Tria, Rittenhouse Sq. - "Drink and Eat Your Oatmeal", Terrapin Wake 'n' Bake (10oz) plus large cookie for $5.50
Tria, Washington Sq. - Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine, 5oz for $5
Though, World Cafe Live is closed. What? The bands are afraid to venture out in a little snow? Wonder what Rendell would say about that?
Where else would I like to hang out in the City on a snowy day? Oh, I don't know. Places come to mind like Bridgid's, Standard Tap, Khyber Pass, Dock Street, For Pete's Sake, South Philly Tap Room, or trapped at the train station at Bridgewater's just to name a very few.
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